'Every single driver' warned as your tyres may be from a scrapyard

Daily Record

07-05-2025

Auto Express has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, calling for "an immediate review of the regulations around the sale of part-worn tyres"
Car safety specialists are calling for legal reforms after discovering that UK drivers are using part-worn tyres sourced from scrapyards in Northern Europe. In response, Auto Express has launched an appeal to Minister of State for Transport Heidi Alexander and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, demanding "an immediate review of the regulations around the sale of part-worn tyres".
An estimated 8 million such tyres may be sold in the UK annually, with many being imported en masse from northern Europe. These often come from old or scrapped vehicles.
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Auto Express's exclusive 'mystery shop' investigation has revealed several safety concerns. The existing regulations require sellers of part-worn tyres in the UK to ensure the absence of significant damage, ensuring the tyre's ability to be fully inflated as per manufacturer specifications, and maintain a minimum tread depth of no less than 2mm.
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Many tyres being sold without markings they must have
Additionally, they must permanently inscribe the term 'PART WORN' in capital letters, at least 4mm high, on the tyre and include an appropriate 'E' mark to signify compliance with European standards. However, an Auto Express investigation, conducted in association with TyreSafe, a tyre safety awareness organisation, discovered that numerous part-worn tyres are being sold without the legally required markings.
In addition, they say they have not been adequately inspected, and in some instances exhibit signs of significant internal damage. Such defects can result in handling problems or blow-outs, greatly endangering both motorists and other road users, reports Plymouth Live.
Consumer editor Chris Rosamond said: "Our investigation has shown that there are serious issues with part-worn tyres, that current regulations are being ignored on a wide scale - a recent TyreSafe investigation targeted at suspect retailers found that 94% of the part-worn tyres inspected were being sold illegally, and over 60% were dangerous - yet enforcement is practically non-existent. This is an issue that affects every single road user, because, while you might not buy potentially dodgy used tyres, your life could be negatively impacted by someone else who has. It's time for the Government to step in."
Accreditation scheme must be set up
Auto Express is calling for the establishment of an official accreditation scheme for retailers to elevate industry standards and offer customers reassurance, alongside stronger enforcement and supervision, suggesting a role for the DVSA to support overburdened local Trading Standards offices. Mr Rosamond added: "Firstly, we are asking for the introduction of an officially backed accreditation scheme for part-worn retailers that includes a minimum level of qualification for tyre fitters and/or quality checkers.
"This one change would offer consumers a guarantee of quality and service that's absent in the market today, and we believe accreditation would also help to encourage investment in a strong and stable part-worn retail sector as a valuable player in the UK's transition to a circular economy.
"Second, we want to see more vigorous and proactive intervention from the authorities to crack down on offenders who ignore part-worn tyre regulations altogether, including those selling online.
"That means greatly increased monitoring and oversight, and stiffer penalties for those who continue to put the lives of all road users at risk by selling potentially dangerous tyres to unsuspecting drivers."
While Auto Express does not call for a complete ban on part-worn tyres - recognising that motorists require affordable choices - it highlights that insufficient regulation and lax supervision are compromising safety.
Mr Rosamond said: "Cash-strapped drivers are still reeling from the cost-of-living crisis, and with the price of new tyres up 50% in just five years many drivers feel forced into cut-price, and potentially dangerous, alternatives. We're not against part-worn sales in principle, but the risks are real. Without appropriate market oversight and enforcement, purchasing part-worn tyres can be a perilous risk - with unknown history, concealed damage, and the chance of failure. What may seem like an immediate saving could end up costing dearly in the long run."